My brother dropped off a family heirloom last Saturday afternoon – My grandfather’s fruit press.
Legend has it that the old man used this press to make apple cider.
I say “Legend has it…” because we weren’t around to see it.
My father inherited the press and attempted to make cider with it once when we were really young. According to our mother, he ‘messed it up’ and ‘it didn’t come out right’. Ah Dad, add that one to your (long) list.
Sorry about the trip on Freud’s couch, but I feel it’s important you know the history of the press.
It’s a curious artifact that I have known my whole life. The press has stood stoic in my family’s garage for years and years like an exhibit in a museum.
Finally, these Brew Dudes are going to see what this relic can do.
When I look online, it looks more like a grape press than an apple press. That’s probably what it is and we may fail miserably like other(s) before us…but maybe…just maybe…we can reclaim the glory of Ol’ Grandpa George and squeeze out a decent hard cider.
Some photos of the old press:
We’re going to try to press apples this weekend. Wish us luck. We’ll post an update of the festivities.
Mike
These pictures are like 1970s, cider porn.
I think you now officially have one of the coolest pieces of brewing related equipment of anyone I know.
Chris
Nice press! My Dad had one a bit similar and we made much apple juice, and the occasional (unintentional) hard cider. A little tip, if you can’t grind the apples before pressing, then quarter and freeze first. Then thaw and press. Much easier to get the juice out.
Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!
John
Thanks for the compliments. I have read a whole bunch of articles about cider pressing in the past few weeks and we definitely are going to grind the apples before they are placed in the press.
I am pretty excited about it even if it goes horribly wrong.
You gotta try things. This press has been sitting idle waaaaaaaaaay too long!
chris
…and when you grind them don’t lose any of that precious juice. What apple types will you be using?
John
We learned to grind them with a food processor and a stick blender.
Note to self: Need a fruit/food mill
We were sure not to lose any juice.
We picked up apples that were available at the farm down the street. We have a mix of:
Macoun
Cortland
Honeycrisp
Royal Empire
David Anderson
I am just learning to press apples. A friend of mine suggested 2 things for more yield. First use some peptic enzyme and mix with the ground apples and let sit for 18 – 24 hours before pressing. This will help release more juice. The second is to put a 1 inch layer of rice hulls between 2 – 3 inches of ground apples when loading into the press. This will help get a higher yield
Karla
The one I remember from my childhood had long handles on the screw, and it took a couple of people to turn it.
Good luck. Post some pictures of it working, and the end results.
Marsha
I have an identical apple press that was my husband’s father. We are looking to sell it — any ideas how to proceed or what would be a fair asking price — apparently it was never used.
John
I am not sure since I am not in the apple press selling business but try selling it on Craigslist if that makes sense for you. The price can be negotiable but it probably depends on how badly you want someone to take it off your hands.
Chip
I have the same press i’m rebuilding .Does any one have an idea of the maker or model #? All I have on the screw frame is letters b202. Thanks
John
Hey Chip – I haven’t done any research into finding out more information. This press is at least 40 years old.
Chip
Yea ,I’m pretty sure this thing is 100 years old .Has all wood hopper and wood frame for all the gearing. Looked everywhere and have yet to see one like it.
Chip
Hey John, I see your screw frame has b201 on it. Mine says b202, w/ e1 on the other side . Has to be the same co. Right? Sure would like to find out who the manufacturer was ,I sure can’t find it no matter how much I research! I’m finished the rebuild cept for sand blasting gears ect. & reassembling. If anybody has an idea who made this please let me know. Thanks Chip from md.
John
Hi Chip,
All right – now my interest is piqued. Let me see if I can find out more about the press. There’s no other details or information anywhere else on your press?
Chip
John, After looking everywhere I think I’m narrowing it down. Found a picture of about exact one only it had only one barrel. Mine has 2. But same screw frame beam. It’s a press grape press not an apple press!! Soon as I started looking up photos of grape presses I found it. when I find the site again I’ll let you know.
John
Yeah, I had a feeling it was a grape press. In the post above, I referred to it as a “fruit” press since I was sure it did some double duty in its time.
Interesting. Yes, please post a comment about the site.
Chip
Here’s two sites that have presses similar to mine minus the wooden hopper ect. but believe it’s same maufatactuer . Maybe Red Cross brand. I’m gonna reserch them.
1) http://www.californiawinemuseum.com pic# pr15 pg. 429
2) http://www.wineandvinethings.com pic # pr29
Is ours like this? let me know…
Chip
1) californiawinemuseum.com pic# pr15 pg 429
2)wineandvinethings.com pic# pr29
simalar to mine minus hopper ect. yours look like this? Maybe Red Cross model?
Rob sinnott
Could be a baccellieri bros. Press I have the same press but it came in a conjunction with a grinder which was pretty cool, I am in the middle of a restoration on it right now… Hope this helped
John
Could be. We need to restore this press as well.